Can I Put Shea Butter on my Dog?

Read this post to find the answer to the questions, “Can I put shea butter on my dog?” and “Is shea butter safe for my dog?”

When we’re caring for our canine friends, we’ve got to be extra careful not to use irritating substances on them or feed them stuff that they’re not supposed to eat.

Dogs can get itchy, dry and irritated skin and if you’re not one to use conventional products on them or are looking for natural alternatives, you might come across using shea butter for dogs. But is shea butter safe for dogs?

Shea butter is a natural plant butter that is extracted from the Shea trees, only found in Africa. It is got by drying then pounding and boiling Shea nuts, which releases the butter that is packed and sold. It’s found in many skin and hair care formulations – even those ones intended for pets.

Your doggy can come up with skin problems that can be soothed very effectively by shea butter! And it’s not toxic to dogs. Shea butter is actually edible and used sometimes to make chocolate and confectionaries. Local African people also use shea butter for cooking. However, don’t keep your jar of shea butter open near your dog. Eating large amounts could cause irritation in the stomach and vomiting.

So to answer the question, “Can I put shea butter on my dog?” Yes you can! It can help a wide variety of skin problems including:

Cracked paws
Itchy fur
Red bumps
Irritation
Dry scaly skin
Dull fur
Small cuts and wounds

You can go ahead and slather some good old shea butter on affected areas. It creates a protective layer that can minimize/stop itching, moisture skin and heal inflammation. It can lubricate the area and keep your dog from scratching at it, which can make the area worse.

Shea butter can also be used to condition your dog’s fur and keep it silky, shiny and soft!

Where to Get Shea Butter

Please ensure to buy 100% pure shea butter, without any additives. This shea butter has all it’s nutrients intact and is nourishing and healing. You can purchase Better Shea Butter’s Unrefined Shea Butter. It’s USDA certified organic and one of the best brands of unrefined shea butter out there.

Take Care

If you’re worried about your dog ingesting the shea butter, it’s best to create DIY products that can rinse off the shea butter such as dog shampoo, fur conditioner and so on. This way, the shea butter won’t sit on your dog’s fur which will prevent him/her from licking it.
I have a DIY Shea Butter Dog Shampoo on the blog so go check it out! It’s a perfect natural shampoo alternative that works effectively!
Cocoa butter is similar to shea butter but it is dangerous to dogs so you’d rather use shea butter.

Do you use shea butter on your dog? Are there any other natural products you’re using on your dog? Share in the comments below!